Rob
I have two teenagers who keep things very busy around our house during the daytime. I also work long hours at Ford Motor Company, and I do want to spend time with my family every day. If I try to cook when my kids have their friends over, I'm certain to be interrupted. In other words, my available times for cooking are very limited. I don't want to give up on anything I love - my family, my job, my cooking - so I do most of my cooking after everyone has gone to bed. My wife is a teacher, so this can be very late at night during the summer. Sometimes, I don't get started with my prep work until 12:30 a.m. Am I crazy?? Maybe. I'm also constantly working on healthier ways to prepare food. I deconstruct every recipe I like, and try to make it with healthier ingredients. The big challenge is keeping the food tasty. I believe it's possible to enjoy what you eat and still be healthy. I lost 30 pounds in 6 months largely by preparing my own food, following Weight Watchers, and exercising. I'm also a frequent participant on http://www.cookingbites.com/; this is the nicest bunch of talented cooks you'll find anywhere. They'll happily welcome you into their community. I assure you that your cooking skills will improve when you've seen what the people on this forum deliver on a daily basis.
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